MINEOLA, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A Long Island man on Thursday was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for firing a gun at four Nassau County police officers following a traffic stop nearly four years ago.
Duane Costa, 40, of Uniondale, was convicted in December of attempted murder, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said that in the early morning hours of October 28, 2018, Costa was a passenger in a car that got pulled over for failing to signal a left turn in Hempstead.
He ran from the scene and fired multiple rounds at four officers before he was eventually detained in a backyard not far from the traffic stop. Officers recovered two pistols.
"Costa was shooting to kill. He didn't want to be arrested. Costa wanted to end the lives of those officers and thankfully he missed," Donnelly said.
One of the officers said the buzzing of the bullet by his ear sounded like "an angry bee."
"The officer estimated the bullet was two to three feet from his ear and head, which means that 24 inches to 36 inches was all that was between life and death," Donnelly said.
The officers were not injured and they did not fire back during the incident.
"They didn't fire a round. I asked one of them today in the courtroom why did you not fire? And he said, 'Cause there was an innocent victim between us and I wasn't going to take that chance,'" Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
"Perhaps one of the most striking and commendable elements of this case was the restraint shown by our four police officers. With a gun literally pointed at their heads they made the decision not to return fire. Not a single shot was discharged by these officers," Donnelly said.
In court, Costa said that he did not get a fair trial and claimed people lied on the stand.
Donnelly said that is not true.
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